‘My songs will be sung in churches’: A Bangladeshi sister’s living legacy

Dhaka, Bangladesh, Oct 25, 2025 / 08:00 am

Sister Mary Minoti still remembers the moment she first heard that voice in the convent — a melodious sound singing worship songs that captivated her immediately. The 63-year-old didn’t realize then that the singer was Sister Mary Amiya, whose hymns she had been singing since childhood during evening prayers and Sunday Mass.

Now, Minoti serves as house superior at St. Mary’s Convent in Toomilia, Bangladesh, and leads worship hymns herself, having once been Amiya’s student. She is a member of the Associates of Mary Queen of the Apostles congregation, known as the SMRA Sisters.

Sister Amiya, who also belongs to the congregation, spent 42 years as a teacher and has been a passionate composer of Christian hymns, writing lyrics for over 100 songs. Twenty of her compositions and melodies are included in Geetaboli, the official hymnbook used in Mass and other liturgical celebrations across Bangladesh.

The book, published by the Christian Communications Center under the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications, contains over 1,000 songs. Amiya is the most prolific contributor among religious sisters.

“Amiya is a gifted songwriter and singer,” Minoti said. “Now, due to age, she sings and conducts less.”

Minoti remembered how Amiya taught songs to the young sisters. “Her mastery of Christian music amazed me. My respect for her grew. She is a treasure for the Catholic community and for Bangladeshi church music.”

Touching hearts through beauty

Amiya’s hymns are known for deepening devotion and inspiring love for God, Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. She still writes music and is often invited to compose for occasions like jubilees or ordinations.

“I love singing Amiya’s songs,” said Swapna Gomes, a housewife who leads church singing in Dhaka. “Her lyrics and melodies are sweet and harmonious. That’s why many have become popular across the country.”

“Amiya has great musical talent, which she has used beautifully,” said Father Kamal Corraya, former director of the Christian Communication Center and editor of “Geetaboli,” a Bengali Catholic (and broadly Christian) hymn book used for liturgy and worship. He is also a songwriter and serves as the parish priest of Solepur Parish in Munshiganj.

He added: “Her songs touch hearts. As a religious sister, her music feels even more perfect. She meditates and practices deeply before writing and singing. Her long teaching career has helped her understand people’s emotions.”

“My parents encouraged me to write songs,” Amiya said. “I’ve written more than 50 songs for schools, associations, birthdays, and jubilees. After singing, people have hugged me. That means a lot.”

In addition to her work in “Geetaboli,” she published a solo songbook titled “Amritta Sangit” (“Tasty Song”) in 2009. It features 27 of her compositions with musical notation.

In the introduction to that book, then-bishop of Dinajpur, Moses Costa, CSC — who later became archbishop of Chittagong — wrote that God had bestowed on Amiya “many gifts,” including the ability to compose and direct music. He recalled her musical direction at his priestly ordination with “gratitude and joy.” He hoped her work would enrich daily worship and foster personal prayer among the faithful.

Costa passed away from COVID-19 on July 13, 2020.

Advice for young musicians

When asked for advice from young musicians, Amiya said: “First, you must know whether you’re singing the song correctly. If you’re performing in public, practice it repeatedly before presenting it.”

She said she believes music can promote Christian values. “Songs are an art. They can win hearts and attract people. Sad songs can express sorrow and touch emotions. Joyful songs can uplift and draw attention.”

Inspired by her father

In Bangladesh, singing is a vital part of worship. Each Mass or prayer service includes six to 12 hymns. “Singing makes worship more lively. It enhances its beauty,” she said.

“Seeing my musical skills, Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC, added me to the worship committee in 1974.”

Ganguly was later declared a servant of God — the first from Bangladesh’s small Catholic community on the path to canonization.

Amiya was born in Tuital Parish, Dhaka. She passed her SSC (Secondary School Certificate, which is the nationwide Grade 10 public school-leaving exam) in 1964 and joined the SMRA congregation the same year. She took her final vows in 1973. From 1970 to 1972, she studied music at Sangeet College in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.

She served on the Christian Community Building Commission at the CBCB Center from 2009 to 2011. Her writing journey began in high school, where she contributed stories, poems, and articles to the school publication. Her father was her inspiration.

Her elder sister joined Mother Teresa’s community. At age 6, Amiya visited Kolkata. “Mother Teresa held me in her arms, stroked my hair, and caressed me,” she recalled.

Later, she studied at the SMRA Sisters’ boarding school. “I admired the sisters and began preparing myself to serve humanity. My religious life has been long and joyful. I’ve been a sister for 58 years,” she said.

A living legacy

Now retired due to illness, Amiya lives at Shanti Bhabon in Gazipur. She suffers from breathing difficulties and spinal pain, and walks only within the convent. Every two years, her relatives take her to visit her village home in Tuital.

“I’m waiting for death,” she said softly. “I won’t remain, but my songs will be sung in churches. My memory will live on. That is my greatest achievement.”

Amiya served as an assistant teacher and headmistress in schools across the Mymensingh Diocese and the Archdiocese of Dhaka. She received the T.A. Ganguly Award and an award from the Bangladesh Christian Writers Forum for her contributions to Christian music and writing.

“My greatest reward as a lyricist is the love of countless people,” she said with a gentle smile.